LAWSUIT IS THREATENED OVER CONVENTION CENTER LABOR PACT

A coalition representing nonunion construction companies has promised legal action if a labor-friendly pact for the planned expansion of the San Diego Convention Center is not made public by today.

In a letter sent to the Clark Construction Group, the Coalition for Fair Employment in Construction demanded that the project labor agreement governing hiring for the $520 million convention center project be released.

Clark, part of a joint venture with the Hunt Construction Group, entered into an agreement late last year with local unions guaranteeing employment for both union and nonunion workers. The pact will also ensure local hiring and union-level wages and benefits for all workers.

The coalition maintains that such labor contracts have the effect of shutting out nonunion contractors, who object to having to pay into union health and retirement benefit plans and who want the right to hire whom they choose.

“It is the policy of the city to post construction contract agreements online to help citizens evaluate the city’s performance in promoting fair and open competition,” states the letter. “As a good citizen of our community, we hope you will likewise post your PLA online for easy public review.”

If the agreement is not made public by Friday, “legal action will follow,” said Eric Christen, executive director of the coalition.

The Clark-Hunt joint venture, in a statement released this week, said it was still reviewing the letter. “At this time, the company is reviewing the letter to determine its response,” said Jim McLamb, senior vice president for Clark-Hunt.

Christen acknowledged that it needs to see the wording of the pact before deciding whether to proceed with litigation challenging the agreement itself. The coalition was the backer of a successful ballot measure last year that bars San Diego from requiring such labor agreements on city construction projects.